Queensland clubs welcome funding support

The Queensland Rugby League has acknowledged the support of the National Rugby League following their announcement yesterday of a relief fund to support community clubs affected by the recent floods.

The establishment of the fund came off the back of discussions between leaders from the QRL and the Brisbane Broncos about the best way to help community clubs in Queensland rebuild.

QRL chief executive officer Rohan Sawyer thanked NRL boss Andrew Abdo for coming on board to formalise the $500,000 fund so quickly.

“The floods have been devastating for many, including community rugby league clubs across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales,” Sawyer said.

“It’s a difficult time for members and volunteers, which is why we’re pleased that the NRL has been able to match the funding support committed by the boards of the QRL, NSWRL and Brisbane Broncos.

“In such dire circumstances, it is refreshing that all levels of the game can come together to assist in getting participants back on the field as quickly as possible.

“A great example of this collaboration is the support from the Brisbane Broncos and their CEO Dave Donaghy, who made it very clear in my early discussions with him that the Broncos were eager to be actively involved in the recovery campaign alongside the QRL and NRL.”

There are 153 Queensland clubs in flood-affected areas, and these clubs will soon be able to apply for financial support via an application process to be forthcoming on the QRL website. 

QRL.com.au also provides many useful resources for clubs and leagues, including information to assist recovery in extreme weather events.

Together with support from the rugby league bodies and the Queensland Government’s Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program, clubs will have multiple avenues of assistance to help get them back on the field.

With their grounds having been ravaged by floodwaters, Easts Mt Gravatt Eagles president Dan Suter welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the NRL and acknowledged the initial work of the QRL and Broncos. 

“It’s pleasing to know that a small club like ours can apply for that extra support,” Suter said.

“We’ve lost a lot of training gear because our first-aid room got swamped, everything in there is gone.

“We did manage to get some equipment out, though. We went down there on Friday night at about nine o’clock and it was just ankle deep and by 10 o’clock it was waist deep.

“Within half an hour, it went up half a metre, and that’s when we called it and said whatever is left, just has to go."

A volunteer mud army will rally behind the Eagles, with a mass clean-up planned on Saturday to help get nearly 200 junior and senior players back on the field as soon as possible.

“It’s still too wet, we can’t even get access down there. We tried to dive a four-wheel drive to the fields but we gave up. It just has to dry out a bit first," Suter said.